The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1887-06-23


luything Prof. Geo. 7. Winston, of the
Juiyersity Faculty, writes is interesting
to educated men, whether they are teach
ers oil. arc III the ranks Of other profes-
sions He is a profound scholar, and
knows how 10 use his knowledge to help
others. But when he scriticizes the educa-
tienal theories ofSso eminent Scientist as
ITerbers Spencer, and takes issue with that
distinguished scholar, what he writes has
a double interest. We therefore present
to our readers, copied from the School
Teacher, the following article from the
pen of Prof. Winston. All who read it
V.lI read it with profit.
The following is the article
Few Of Mr.. Spencer's writings are more
entertaining than his Essays on Education.
They display a boldness of thought,
sweep Of intellect and charming richness
of style that astonish, captivate and con
vince And yet they are narrow in view,
unfair IL statement, ,fallacious in argument,
false in conclusion and impractical in ap-
pljeauon. Especially may this be said of
the first essay. which discusses the COM
Taratlye values of knowledge. To that
essay j. confined the present criticism.
What knowledge IS of most wOrth:H is
the question to be answered for Education,
II order that it may know what knowledge
To confer. MIR. Spencer answers it with
;lI the zeal of 4 missionary. "What knowl-
edge Is Of most worth?-the uniform reply
Science. For direct self-preservation,
ur the maintenance of life and health the
ali important knowledge is Science For
gaining a livelihood, the knowledge Of
greatest value is-Science. For the due
discharge Of parental functions, the proper
guidance is to be found only in-Science.
For that Interpretation of national life,
fast and present without which the citi-
zen can not regulate his conduct, the in
di>pensabIe key is-Science Alike for
the most perfect production and highest
enjoyment Of art IN all its forms. the need
sul preparation is stll-Science. And for
purposes of iscipline-intelectual moral,
reiigieus-the most efficient study IS, once
m0re-Science This IS the basis of his
system. We may guess the superstruc-
ture. Mau owes to science life health
and happiness. therefore let him devote TO
tile cultivation Of science his mind, heart,
soul and body. Science is Of the first i'm
rortance. the last Importance, the most
Importance; let it be studied then first,
Iasr and most. Science is Of universal ap-
},..cstlou and IS true for all times, all
oa0utries, all ages; let it be studied then
.,li the schools, everywhere, by every
gas,y and for all time.
one would think after reading this essay
hat human progress, nay even civilized
Estence. had been impossible without
.le thorough schooling of each generation
IN science And yet science has never
been taught in the schools. Mr.. Spencer,
l,nself. is amazed at the blessings con
erred by science on mankind and at man
Etad's failure to study science. He says
And vet the knowledge which is Of such
tI:tnsceudent value is that which, in ou1
ge Of boasted education. receives the least
attention. While this which We call civi
i.zdton could never have arisen, had il
not been for science; science forms scarce
Is an appreciable element in what mer
consider civilized training. Though tC
the progress of science we owe it, that
millions find support where once there
was food only for thousands; yet Of these
millions but a few thousands pay any re
spect to that which made their existence
possible. Though this increasing knowl
edge of the properties and relations o.
things has not only enabled wandering
tribes to grow into populous nations bu
has given to the countless members O
those pOpulOus nations comforts and pleas
ares which their few naked ancestors
never even conceived, or could have be
ieyed; yet is this kind OF knowledge onl,
now receiving grudgins recognition il
DIR highest educational institutiOns.n
Where then has the world learned it
--eace! Each generation has learned i
s.1Ge9here some how, in some school
It mas not been taught in the academies
the public schools, the colleges or the uni
yersities. for these are even now giving i
only a ''gaudging recognition,' a sort o
unwilling bow. 1t has learned science il
the school Of experience, with necessit.
for its teacher It has studied scenc
-, +loo -ho,
munger drove men to dig for roots 0
Climb for berries until now, when tn
steam plow prepares the Soilfor grain an(
the steamship transports 1t across TIL
.eas. 1t has studied science on the farm
n the mine, on shipboard on the battle
GeId. in the hospital, in shops, III factories
store rooms, markets, mills and foundries
From the cradle to the grave, from tn
first vail Of infancy to the gurgle Of death
mans life is a perpetual study OF science
Mr. Spencer writes ninety-four pages 0
glowing and captivating rhetoric to prov
that mankind has secured life, health
wealth. happiness, government, art liter
ature, morality and religion by means Q
scientific knowledge, and then boldl
charges that the world has neglecte
science Indeed, If it has wrought a
these things with science, what furthe
proof Of devotion could it give? Possibl
theory Of seismic disturbance and pou
forth to it on bended knee the sad longing
Of the heart in flowing and harmonlou
logarithmic formulae
Mr.. Spencer is not the first philosopht
that has tried to make the public schot
do the work of better school. But th
unerring instincts of humanity Sorkin
through the slow experience of the age
have decided against him. The home IS
school of training, a school that mao
society and government possible, the fir'
and oldest and best of all the schools,
school whose lessons sink deepest into tt
heart and mind and soul, and most pr
foundly affect our destinies aschool who's
work no other agency can perform. 81
(topian philosophers have advocated tt
abolition Of the home and have write
learnedly, eloquently and forcibly to prov
that its work can be done better, mo-
cheaply and more easily in the publ
school. Society, too, is school for ed
cation with its peculiar lessons and met
DDS Of instruction. A fourth school +
education, the most primitive and un
yersal and valuable, after the home, is Il
\ school of business, the school where eat
MON earns a living II is in this SchO